Question on Energy Melee's...

...Energy Transfer and Total Focus.

I'm not sure about taking ET simply for the fact of transferring hit points for damage. Since I've never used this power set before, can someone educate me on this power's value and what this actually means to a tanker in way of damage vs loss of HP for this power. I'd appreciate it.

On my EM brute it was my hardest hitting attack, unslotted, but I don't know how it is for tankers. I don't really notice the hp damage.

ET does 167 HP of damage per activation, the same amount at level 1 as at level 50. That's less than 9% of the base HP a tank has at level 1, before bonuses and any HP boosting powers.

IME with EM, it's never a problem unless you've taken damage and are already low on HP. Given the damage it does and the low endurance cost it's well worth taking in my opinion.

If it's skipped nowdays, it's much more likely to be because of its long animation, especially considering how quick it was before the change.

Energy Transfer is a great attack. I've never used it on a tanker before, but my stalker's ET delivers a sizable wallop. Even though the hit points are far less than a tanker/brute; I barely notice the damage taken from self. I would not recommend skipping this power however, I would recommend not using it if you're about to die. Energy Melee overall is my favorite melee set

I'd say it depends upon your primary power set. I've got an Electric Armour/Energy Melee character, and he takes more damage from Energy Transfer than he takes from most enemies.